lilly3

Latest posts by lilly3

I've had great results with my begonia tubers for the last two years. They were in pots and come the first frosts I lifted them, dusted them off and wrapped them well in newspaper. I just put them back in their pots under a little compost out in their growing position once frosts gone and they've done beautifully. Even last year with all that rain. So I'm going to leave my tubers sleeping for a bit longer.

I have a camelia bonomiana planted in a pot in the correct compost and I think in a good position. It's been fed and watered at the correct times so it shouldn't have any cause for complaint.....but there are no signs of any buds at all and it's supposed to be an early flowering variety. The leaves are green and glossy though. This will be it's third year. I thought maybe it needed to mature before flowering, but thinking back it had blossoms on when I bought it. Any advice will be very gratefully received.

Has anyone got a suggestion what is dragging small twigs half way down into the soil between paving so they stick upright? I've noticed it for ages but now I've got half buried leaves sticking out of the raised flower beds. I'm intrigued!

Thanks for the advice Dove fromabove. I've just had a look at it and given it a good prod with the fork. I thought it would be a nest but appears to be quite hard packed half cooked compost. I've not been keeping it damp enough as you suggest, so will follow your advice and hopefully the ants won't come back.

My compost bin had been left untouched for a while and when I finally went to sort it out found it was a mound of seething ants. Being a lady of a delicate constitution it freaked me out somewhat!!! I threw in lots of ant powder and slammed on the lid. A while later and with some trepidation I peeked in and all seemed quiet and still. My dilemma is what to do now. Is it still compost that I can spread on the garden, or will it have become an ant nest full of dead ants? In that case how do I dispose of it? Could someone help please.

Thanks for the advice and link Dovefromabove. Well Sotongeoff, I've a good selection but I'm mainly concerned about campanula persicifolia, alstroemerias, peony, oriental poppy, scabious and primula vialii.

Could anyone advise a relative beginner on mulching perennials for winter. Should the crowns of tender plants be covered or just the bases, and if so must the mulch be removed for spring? Thanks for any advice.

I bought two Papaver orientalis "Patty's Plum" in May. One started to produce new leaf and looked healthy. The other stayed pretty much as I bought it. Neither produced flowers. About two weeks ago the second grew new leaf and the first a flower spike. This has now gone black and drooped without opening into flower. The leaves seem unaffected. They are planted in well drained soil which has been enriched with manure and get a good amount of sun. Am I doing something wrong or is there a disease process going on here? Can anyone give me some suggestions please?